Indexing equalizing valve for retrievable well packer

ABSTRACT

A mandrel having a central flow passage and a pair of ports at the uppermost end of the flow passage terminating in the central portion of the mandrel has a pair of reference pins spaced 180* apart near the uppermost end of the mandrel. A sleeve valve having a pair of indexing pins spaced 180* apart near the center of the sleeve and having a pair of ports spaced 180* around the sleeve is rotatably attached around the mandrel in a matching relationship to the ports in the mandrel. The lower end of the mandrel is threadedly connected to a connection member which is threadedly engaged to a gudgeon coupling assembly which in turn is threadedly engaged to the uppermost end of a well packer. A running tool attached to the lower end of a tubing string has a freely rotating tubular indexer with a pair of indexing slots spaced 180* apart which are adapted to first engage the reference pins. Each of the indexing slots has an initial channel running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the indexer and a second channel running oblique to the first channel, the oblique channel then communicating with a third channel running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the indexer and offset from the first channel by 90* around the circumference of the indexer. As the tubing string is further lowered, the indexing slots in combination with the reference pins prevent further rotation of the indexer and also engage the indexing pins on the sleeve valve, thus causing the sleeve valve to rotate and the ports in the mandrel to be aligned with the ports in the sleeve, whereby the pressures below and above the packer are equalized. The gudgeon coupling assembly threaded into the well packer is engaged with a jay slot assembly carried by the running tool to manipulate the packer. As the tubing string is lifted, the reference pins prevent rotation of the indexer, thus causing the sleeve valve to rotate to the closed position.

United States Patent [191 Read INDEXING EQUALIZING VALVE FOR RETRIEVABLEWELL PACKER [75] Inventor: Norman W. Read, Dallas, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc., Dallas, Tex.

' 22] Filed: Oct. 16, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 298,107

[51] Int. Cl E21b 23/00 [58] Field of Search 166/123,128, 131, 133,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,893,491 7/1 59 Crowe166/123 X 3,189,096 6/1965 Phenix. 166/133 3,321,016 5/1967 Lance166/123 3,420,305 l/l969 Alexander et al. 166/123 X 3,442,328 5/1969Nutler 166/226 X 3,483,922 12/1969 McEver 166/226 3,581,820 6/1971 Burns166/226 Primary Examiner-David H. Brown Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lohn N.Hazelwood; William E. Johnson, Jr.; Michael J. Caddell [57] ABSTRACT Amandrel having a central flow passage and a pair of ports at theuppermost end of the flow passage terminating in the central portion ofthe mandrel has a pair of reference pins spaced 180 apart near theuppermost end of the mandrel. A sleeve valve having a pair 1 June 11,1974 of indexing pins spaced 180 apart near the center of the sleeve andhaving a pair of ports spaced 180 around the sleeve is rotatablyattached around the mandrel in a matching relationship to the ports inthe mandrel. The'lower end of the mandrel is threadedly connected to aconnection member which is threadedly engaged to a gudgeon couplingassembly which in turn is threadedly engaged to the uppermost end of awell packer.

A running tool attached to the lower end of a tubing string has a freelyrotating tubular indexer with a pair of indexing slots spaced 180 apartwhich are adapted to first engage the reference pins. Each of theindexing slots has an initial channel running parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the indexer and a second channel running oblique tothe first channel, the oblique channel then communicating with a thirdchannel running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the indexer andoffset from the first channel by 90 around the circumference of theindexer. As the tubing string is further lowered, the indexing slots incombination with the reference pins prevent further rotation of theindexer and also engage the indexing pins on the sleeve valve, thuscausing the sleeve valve to rotate and the ports in the mandrel to bealigned with the ports in the sleeve, whereby the pressures below andabove the packer are equalized. The gudgeon coupling assembly threadedinto the well packer is engaged with a jay slot assembly carried by therunning tool to manipulate the packer.

As the tubing string is lifted, the reference pins prevent rotation ofthe indexer, thus causing the sleeve valve to rotate to the closedposition.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures III/II PATENTEDJua 1 1 m4 SHEET .1 BF 5FIG. |*B

' FIG.|'A

PATENTEDJUN H 1974 3.815576 SHEET 2 OF 5 FIG. 3

PATENTEDJUHH new 3.815.876

SHEET uur 5 B- SECTION B'B FIG. 6 FIG. 7

INDEXING EQUALIZING VALVE FOR RETRIEVABLE WELL PACKER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates generally to a well packer, and inparticular, to apparatus for equalizing the pressures above and below aretrievable well packer.

As is well known in the art, a well packer or bridge plug is essentiallyan isolation tool adapted to be run into an oil well and set to isolatea lower portion of the well from an upper portion of the well in whichpressure operations, such as treating, acidizing, formation fracturing,squeezing, swabbing, testing, etc. are to be carried out. With suchoperations, the tubular string upon which the bridge plug is run and setis disconnected therefrom to expedite each of the above operations. Aretrievable bridge plug is one in which the apparatus can be retrievedwithout the destruction thereof, for example, as by drilling out thebridge plug, such bridge plugs being well known in the art, for example,as illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,434,538 to Marion D.Kilgore and Robert C. Pumpelly, and assigned to the assignee of thepresent inventron.

With any such bridge plug, it is desirable to equalize the pressures onopposite sides of the packer before the packer is unset. Otherwise, thepressure differential will cause the packer to move up or down as it isbeing released, depending upon the direction of excess pressure, suchmovement of the packer being highly undesirable in terms of expense andhazards to the operating personnel. As explained in the above-mentionedU.S.

Pat. No. 3,434,538, as well as being explained in U.S. Pat. No.s2,947,36l; 3,l89,096; 3,308,886; 3,386,764 and 3,422,900, it is known inthe art that the pressures above and below the bridge plug should beequalized. However, the apparatus of the prior art generally have usedeither collets, dogs, or collets with dogs which were operated by thepicking up of the tubing and the setting down of the tubing. Sandfrequently interfered with the operation of these prior art devices,resulting in broken parts and the running tool hanging up on the valve.Furthermore, with many of the prior art devices, there was no absoluteassurance that the valve was open or closed at any particular timewithin the process.

It is also known in the oilfield art to use the longitudinal motion ofthe tubing string to rotate a sleeve valve to the open or closedpositions. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,465,820, a sleeve valve isrotated inside the flow passage to open or close the valve in responseto a succession of longitudinal movements of the tubing string. However,the apparatus according to this patent is exceedingly complex and isdependent upon the setting tool running down through the packer to openthe valve in the flow passage beneath the packing element.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide anew and improved apparatus for use with a retrievable well packer withincreased capability for trouble-free running and retrieving;

It is also an object of the invention to provide a new and improvedequalizing valve for use with a bridge plug which is essentiallyunaffected by a sand environment in the well bore;

It isyet another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for usewith a retrievable bridge plug which is set or unset by a singlelongitudinal motion of the tubing string;

It is still another object of the invention to provide a retrievablebridge plug having an equalizing valve which is automatically openedwhenever the running tool sets down on the bridge plug and which isautomatically closed whenever the running tool is lifted up from thebridge plug.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects of the invention are accomplished,generally, by the provision of an apparatus having a tubular indexertherein with a pair of indexing slots spaced on opposite sides thereofand adapted to freely rotate within said apparatus prior to engagementwith a first pair of spaced reference pins fixed to a mandrel threadedlyengaged with the well packer and adapted to be partially enveloped bythe tubular indexer. A sleeve valve having a second pair of spacedindexing pins is adapted to rotate around the mandrel to port a flowpassage in the mandrel to theexterior of the tool. In setting down therunning tool havingthe tubular indexer therein, the reference pins onthe mandrel engage the respective indexing slots. While setting down,the indexer is forced by the reference pins to rotate into position forthe lower portion of each of the indexing slots to receive the indexingpins on the sleeve valve. As set-down continues, the reference pinsprevent further rotation of the indexer and forces the rotation of thesleeve valve to thus open the valve. When picking up the running tool,the indexer is braced against rotation by the reference pins on themandrel; however, the indexing pins force the sleeve valve to rotate,automatically positioning the ports in the sleeve valve out of line withthe mandrel ports to thus close the valve. Means are also provided inthe running tool to manipulate the well packer.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing detailed specification and drawing, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B, taken together, form a side elevational view, partly incross section, of the overall apparatus according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a developed view of the tubular indexer according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a tubular view of the apparatus according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates, partly in cross section, the mandrel according tothe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the section linesA-A of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates, partly in cross section, the sleeve valve accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken generally along the section lines BB ofFIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a developed view of the jay slot assembly according to theinvention used for manipulating a well packer.

Referring now to the drawing in more detail, especially in FIGS. 1A and1B, taken together, there is illustrated therein a mechanically actuatedindexing equalizing valve and running tool assembly generally designatedby the reference character 10. The uppermost connection 11 of theassembly has internal threads 12 adapted for connection to the lower endof a tubing string (not shown) for utilization of the apparatus within awell bore. The lower threaded connection 13 is adapted for connectionwith a conventional well packer assembly, for example, the threadedconnection 204 of the packer assembly illustrated and described withrespect to FIG. 8A in US. Pat. No. 3,548,936 to Marion D. Kilgore andRobert C. Pumpelly, and assigned to the assignee of the presentinvention. The apparatus illustrated with respect to FIGS. 1A and 1B canalso be used with other packers, for example, as illustrated in US. Pat.No. 3,416,608 to Morgan Crow et al., and assigned to the assignee of thepresent invention. The assembly 10 also includes a mandrel 14, shown inmore detail in FIGS. 4 and 5, having a flow passage terminating withinthe mandrel 14 internal to the sleeve valve assembly 16 shown in greaterdetail in FIGS. 6 and 7. The running too] assembly includes an outercylindrical housing 17 threadedly attached to the upper connection 11and held against rotation by set screw 18. A tubular indexer 19, shownin greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, is mounted internal to the outerhousing 17 and is adapted for freedom of rotation therein. The upper end20 of the indexer assembly 19 is restrained by the lower shoulder 21 ofthe upper connection 11. The lower extremity 22 of the indexer assembly19 is limited in its downward movement by the ring 29' integraltherewith and the shoulder 23 on the upper end of the jay slot assembly31 threadedly attached to the housing 17. Stabilizing rings 29 and 29provide a centering effect of the tubular indexing member 19 within thehousing 17.

A connector housing 25 is threadedly attached at its upper end to thelower end of the mandreal 14 and at its lower end to the gudgeoncoupling assembly 24. An O-ring 26 provides a fluid seal between thecoupling member 25 and the gudgeon coupling assembly 24. 0- rings 27 and28 provide a fluid seal between the mandrel 14 and the sleeve valveassembly 16 in addition to the other sealing elements described withrespect to the valve assembly in FIGS. 6 and 7. An O-ring 32 providesadditional sealing between the connector member 25 and the mandrel 14. Aconventional milling shoe 30 is threadedly connected to the lowersection of the jay slot assembly 31 in an encircling relationship to thegudgeon coupling assembly 24.

A conventional jay-slot assembly 31, shown in more detail in FIG. 8, isthreadedly attached at its upper end to the tubular housing 17', the jayslot assembly 31 being arranged to engage the gudgeon pins on thegudgeon coupling 24 for manipulation of the well packer (not shown)which would normally be attached to the lower connector 13.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is illustrated the tubular indexer19. A pair of indexing slots and 41 are formed within the tubular member19 as is best illustrated in the developed view of FIG. 2. The indexingslots 40 and 41 have initial channels 42 and 43, respectively, runningparallel with the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 19 and formed180 apart around the circumference of the tubular member 19. The secondstages 44 and 45 of the channels are formed oblique to the initialchannels 42 and 43. The slots 40 and 41 are'then seen to have additionalchannel portions 46 and 47, respectively, running parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the tubular member 19 and likewise formed 180 apartaround the circumference of the tubular member 19 but displaced 90 fromthe initial channel portions 42 and 43. A pair of flange members 22 and35 are formed 180 apart around the circumference of the tubular member19 and each has sharply defined cam angles for purposes explainedhereinafter with regard to the operation of the apparatus. It should beappreciated that in the fabrication of the tubular member 19, the points22 and 35 are initially of the same dimension but during the fabricationprocess, the point 35 is machined off to put the point 35 in a differentplane than the point 22 to facilitate the operation of the device.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the mandrel 14 is shown in greaterdetail. The upper end 50 of the mandrel 14 is bullet-shaped tofacilitate its enclosure by the tubular indexing member 19 illustratedin FIGS. 2 and 3. A gudgeon coupling assembly 51 having gudgeon pinextensions 52 and 53 is formed in the center portion of the mandrel 14.The flow passage 15 in the threaded end of the mandrel 14 is illustratedas terminating within the mandrel 14 and adapted to coincide with thesleeve valve assembly 16, illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, to allow fluidto pass between the flow passage 15 and the exterior of the assembly 10.The flow passage 15 terminates within a cylindrical portion 54 of themandrel 14 having a shoulder 55 for positioning the sleeve valveassembly. A pair of ports 59 and 59' (port 59 is not shown) are formed180 apart in the mandrel 14 to allow fluid to flow between the flowpassage 15 and the exterior of the apparatus 10.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken through the gudgeoncoupling assembly 51 along the section line AA.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is illustrated a tubular shapedsleeve valve assembly 16 having a pair of gudgeon pins 60 and 61. Asseen in FIG. 7, taken through the section lines BB of FIG. 6, the sleevevalve 16 has a pair of ports 62 and 63 spaced 180 apart around thecircumference of the sleeve valve. The gudgeon pins 60 and 61 are alsospaced 180 apart around the circumference of the sleeve valve and areeach spaced 90 from each of the ports 62 and 63. Seal members 64 and 65are positioned 180 apart on the inner surface of the sleeve valve toprovide sealing of fluids within the flow passage 15, illustrated bestin FIG. 4,

whenever the sleeve valve is in the closed position. In

the preferred embodiment, the seal members 64 and 65 are comprised ofreplaceable metal inserts with a rubber or rubber-like sealing surfaceformed thereon whereby the expended seals can easily be replaced. Whenthe valve is in the open position, the ports 62and 63 are aligned withthe ports-59 and 59' (not shown) in the mandrel 14.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is illustrated a developed view of thejay slot assembly 31 used in conjunction with the gudgeon pins on thegudgeon coupling assembly 24 illustrated in FIG. 1B. The jay slotassembly 31 is essentially tubular in shape and includes a pair ofconventional jay slots and 71 for engaging the gudgeon coupling pins onthe assembly 24. The jay slots 70 and 71 are formed apart around thecircumfer-.

ence of the assembly 31. The extremities 72 and 73 are fabricated ondifferent planes to prevent the inadvertent sticking of the points 72and 73 on the gudgeon coupling pins on the assembly 24.

In the operation of the circuitry of the apparatus above described withrespect to FIGS. 1-8, it should be appreciated that the subassemblycomprised of the mandrel 14, valve assembly 16, the connector member 25and the gudgeon coupling assembly 24 are threadedly connected by meansof the lower connector 13 into a well packer assembly (not illustrated)having a flow passage therethrough aligned with the flow passage 15.With the running tool assembly yet to be engaged with the mandrel 14,the sleeve valve assembly 16 is always in the closed position. Thus, theflow passage is sealed off from the zones above the well packer. When itis desired to equalize the pressures across the well packer, the upperconnector 11 of the running tool assembly 10 is connected to the lowerend of a tubing string which is used to cause the running tool assembly10 to be run down over the top of the mandrel 14. As is known in theart, the milling shoe 30 enables the running tool to pass through sandand other obstructions to enable the tool to be run down over the top ofthe mandrel 14. Prior to engagement with the mandrel, the indexingassembly 19 is free to rotate within the tubular housing 17 and isstabilized by the stabilizing rings 29 and 29. As the running tool islowered onto the mandrel, the referencing pins 52 and 53 strike thecammed surfaces adjacent the extensions 22 and 35 on the tubularindexing member 19 causing the tubular member 19 to rotate one directionor the other, depending upon the orientation of the tubular member 19 asit is being lowered. The point 35 is on a different plane than the point22 to further guard against the possibility of the points 22 and 35coinciding upon the referencing pins 52 and 53 and possibly causing asticking of the assembly. As the indexing member 19 rotates, thereferencing pins 52 and 53 first pass through the channels 42 and 43 andthen through the oblique portions of the channels 44 and 45. Aftersufficient rotation of the tubular member 19, the referencing pins 52and 53 are aligned with the channels 46 and 47 and no further rotationof the tubular assembly 19 can occur. As the running too] is furtherlowered, the indexing pins 60 and 61 on the valve assembly are engagedby the channels 42 and 43 and then by the oblique portions 44 and 45.Since the referencing pins 52 and 53 prevent further rotation of theindexing tube 19, this causes the valve assembly 16 to rotate until theports 59 and 59 within the mandrel 14 are aligned with the ports 62 and63 in the sleeve valve. At this point, the valve is opened and fluidbeneath the well packer is in communication with fluid above the wellpacker. Since the pressures above and below the packer are thusequalized, the tubing can then be manipulated in a known manner usingthe gudgeon coupling assembly 24 and the jay slot assembly 31 tomanipulate the packer (not shown) in any manner desired, for example,such as causing the slips on the packer to be unset and thus enablingthe whole assembly, including the packer, to be removed from the wellbore by pulling the tubing.

If it is desired to leave the packer in the set condition and have thevalve assembly closed, by merely pulling up on the running tool, theforegoing procedure is reversed. Thus, by pulling upward on the tubing,the

' sleeve valve 16 is caused to rotate to the closed position and therunning tool is thus pulled off of the subassembly including the mandreland its related coupling members.

As another aspect of the operation of the apparatus ple, as isillustrated in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,548,936, can beconnected at its upper end to the lower connector 13 of the completeassembly illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B and the upper connector 11 canbe connected to a tubing string which is adapted for lowering the packerand running tool assembly into an earth borehole. With such aconfiguration. the gudgeon coupling assembly 24 is engaged with the jayslots 70 and 71 illustrated in FIG. 8. Once the packer has been loweredto the desired depth, the tubing string is picked up and rotated to theright one-half turn at the packer to thus unjay the packer. Thenapproximately 4000 to 20,000 pounds of tubing weight can be set down toset the lower slip on the packer, thus closing the packer valve andcompressing the packer rubber. The tubing string is then picked up withbetween 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of tubing tension to set the upper slipon the packer securely and to tighten the compression of the packerrubber. At this point, the packer is set but the indexing equalizingvalve is still open since the running tool assembly has not beenremoved. Then by pulling straight up on the tubing string, the valveassembly 16 is closed as previously described and the running toolassembly and tubing string can be either removed from the borehole ormoved further up in the borehole for additional operations. It shouldespecially be appreciated that the closing of the valve assembly 16 isaccomplished entirely by the single upward motion of the tubing stringand is entirely independent of the status of the torque in the tubing,regardless of whether the torque is residual or impressed.

Thus, it should be appreciated that a vastly improved and simpleapparatus has been described herein according to the invention, the wellpacker, for examwhereby equalization of the pressures below and above awell packer can be obtained by merely lowering the tubing string and itsrelated running tool onto the mandrel and related couplings used withthe well packer, and the valve included with the mandrel used with thewell packer be closed by a simple upward pulling of the tubing string.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for use in a well with a well packer having a flow passagetherethrough, said apparatus comprising:

a mandrel having a pair of referencing pins spaced 180 apart around theperiphery of said mandrel and a flow passage extending therethrough froma first end of said mandrel to an intermediate portion thereof, saidmandrel including port means between said mandrel flow passage and theexterior.

of said mandrel;

a tubular sleeve valve rotatably encircling a portion of said mandrel injuxtaposition to said port means, said sleeve valve having a pair ofindexing pins spaced 180 apart around the circumference of said sleevevalve, and said sleeve valve having two ports therethrough spaced 180apart around the circumference of said sleeve valve and away from eachof said sleeve valve indexing pins; and,

means for connecting said first end of said mandrel to a well packer,whereby the flow passage in said mandrel can be aligned with the flowpassage in the well packer.

comprising:

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second end of saidmandrel is substantially bulletshaped.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sleeve valve includesinternal sealing means to prevent 5 fluid in the mandrel flow passagefrom exiting through said port means whenever the ports in said sleevevalve are rotated out of alignment with said port means in said mandrel.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said port means comprisesa pair of ports spaced 180 apart around the circumference of saidmandrel.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, including in addition thereto, agudgeon coupling assembly having a flow passage therethrough alignedwith the flow passage in said mandrel and having a pair of gudgeon pinsspaced 180 apart around the circumference of said gudgeon couplingassembly.

6. An apparatus-for use with a tubing string in a well,

a tubular body member having means at a first end of said body forconnection to a tubing string, said body member being open at its secondend;

a tubular indexing member having a pair of indexing slot-s thereinformed 180 apart around the circumference of said indexing member, saidindexing member being arranged to freely rotate within said body memberand being restrained against any substantial movement along thelonitudinal axis of said body member; and,

a tubular jay slot assembly arranged internally to said body member andbetween said open end of said body member and said tubular indexingmember, said jay slot assembly including a pair of jay slots formedtherein and spaced 180 apart around the inner periphery of said jay slotassembly.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, including in addition thereto, amilling shoe connected to the open end of said body member.

8. A system manipulated by a tubing string for equalizing pressuresabove and below a well packer wherein the packer includes a flow passagetherein, comprising:

a mandrel having a pair of referencing pins spaced 180 apart around theperiphery of said mandrel and a flow passage extending therethrough froma first end of said mandrel to an intermediate portion thereof, saidmandrel including port means between said mandrel flow passage and theexterior of said mandrel;

a tubular sleeve valve rotatably encircling a portion of said mandrel injuxtapostion to said port means, said sleeve valve having a pair ofindexing pins spaced 180 apart around the circumference of said sleevevalve, and said sleeve valve having two ports therethrough spaced 180apart around the circumference of said sleeve valve and 90 away fromeach of said sleeve valve indexing pins;

means for connecting said first end of said mandrel to a well packer,whereby the flow passage in said 0 mandrel can be aligned with the flowpassage in the well packer;

a tubular body member having means at a first end thereof for connectionto a tubing string, said body member being open at its second end andsized to envelop said mandrel and said tubular sleeve valve; and,

a tubular indexing member having a pair of indexing slots therein formedapart around the circumference of said indexing member. said indexingmember being arranged to freely rotate within said body member and beingrestrained against any substantial movement along the longitudinal axisof said body member.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the second end of saidmandrel is substantially bulletshaped.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said sleeve valveincludes internal sealing means to prevent fluid in the mandrel flowpassage from exiting through said port means whenever the ports in saidsleeve valve are rotated out of alignment with said port means in saidmandrel.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said port meanscomprises a pair of ports spaced 180 apart around the circumference ofsaid mandrel.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, including in addition thereto,a gudgeon coupling assembly having a flow passage therethrough alignedwith the flow passage in said mandrel and having a pair of gudgeon pinsspaced 180 apart around the circumference of said gudgeon couplingassembly.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, including in addition thereto,a tubular jay slot assembly arranged internally to said body member andbetween said open end of said body member and said tubular indexingmember, said jay slot assembly including a pair of jay slots formedtherein and spaced 180 apart around the inner periphery of said jay slotassembly.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, including in addition thereto,a milling shoe connected to the open end of said body member.

15. An apparatus for use with a well packer having a flow passagetherethrough, said apparatus comprising:

a mandrel adaptable for connection to the top of a well packer, saidmandrel having a 'flow passage alignable with the flow passage in thewell packer, said mandrel having lateral port means between said mandrelflow passage and the exterior of said mandrel;

a sleeve valve rotatably encircling a portion of said mandrel and havingopenings through the wall' thereof in juxtaposition to said port means,said sleeve valve moving between positions covering and uncovering saidport means; and,

means responsive to longitudinal movement of a tubing string in the wellto rotate said sleeve valve between said covered and uncoveredpositions.

1. Apparatus for use in a well with a well packer having a flow passagetherethrough, said apparatus comprising: a mandrel having a pair ofreferencing pins spaced 180* apart around the periphery of said mandreland a flow passage extending therethrough from a first end of saidmandrel to an intermediate portion thereof, said mandrel including portmeans between said mandrel flow passage and the exterior of saidmandrel; a tubular sleeve valve rotatably encircling a portion of saidmandrel in juxtaposition to said port means, said sleeve valve having apair of indexing pins spaced 180* apart around the circumference of saidsleeve valve, and said sleeve valve having two ports therethrough spaced180* apart around the circumference of said sleeve valve and 90* awayfrom each of said sleeve valve indexing pins; and, means for connectingsaid first end of said mandrel to a well packer, whereby the flowpassage in said mandrel can be aligned with the flow passage in the wellpacker.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second end ofsaid mandrel is substantially bullet-shaped.
 3. The apparatus accordingto claim 1 wherein said sleeve valve includes internal sealing means toprevent fluid in the mandrel flow passage from exiting through said portmeans whenever the ports in said sleeve valve are rotated out ofalignment with said port means in said mandrel.
 4. The apparatusaccording to claim 3 wherein said port means comprises a pair of portsspaced 180* apart around the circumference of said mandrel.
 5. Theapparatus according to claim 4, including in addition thereto, a gudgeoncoupling assembly having a flow passage therethrough aligned with theflow passage in said mandrel and having a pair of gudgeon pins spaced180* apart around the circumference of said gudgeon coupling assembly.6. An apparatus for use with a tubing string in a well, comprising: atubular body member having means at a first end of said body forconnection to a tubing string, said body member being open at its secondend; a tubular indexing member having a pair of indexing slots thereinformed 180* apart around the circumference of said indexing member, saidindexing member being arranged to freely rotate within said body memberand being restrained against any substantial movement along thelonitudinal axis of said body member; and, a tubular jay slot assemblyarranged internally to said body member and between said open end ofsaid body member and said tubular indexing member, said jay slotassembly including a pair of jay slots formed therein and spaced 180*apart around the inner periphery of said jay slot assembly.
 7. Theapparatus according to claim 6, including in addition thereto, a millingshoe connected to the open end of said body member.
 8. A systemmanipulated by a tubing string for equalizing pressures above and belowa well packer wherein the packer includes a flow passage therein,comprising: a mandrel having a pair of referencing pins spaced 180*apart around the periphery of said mandrel and a flow passage extendingtherethrough from a first end of said mandrel to an intermediate portionthereof, said mandrel including port means between said mandrel flowpassage and the exterior of said mandrel; a tubular sleeve valverotatably encircling a portion of said mandrel in juxtapostion to saidport means, said sleeve valve having a pair of indexing pins spaced 180*apart around the circumference of said sleeve valve, and said sleevevalve having two ports therethrough spaced 180* apart around thecircumference of said sleeve valve and 90* away from each of said sleevevalve indexing pins; means for connecting said first end of said mandrelto a well packer, whereby the flow passage in said mandrel can bealigned with the flow passage in the well packer; a tubular body memberhaving means at a first end thereof for connection to a tubing string,said body member being open at its second end and sized to envelop saidmandrel and said tubular sleeve valve; and, a tubular indexing memberhaving a pair of indexing slots therein formed 180* apart around thecircumference of said indexing member, said indexing member beingarranged to freely rotate within said body member and being restrainedagainst any substantial movement along the longitudinal axis of saidbody member.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the secondend of said mandrel is substantially bullet-shaped.
 10. The apparatusaccording to claim 8 wherein said sleeve valve includes internal sealingmeans to prevent fluid in the mandrel flow passage from exiting throughsaid port means whenever the ports in said sleeve valve are rotated outof alignment with said port means in said mandrel.
 11. The apparatusaccording to claim 10 wherein said port means comprises a pair of portsspaced 180* apart around the circumference of said mandrel.
 12. Theapparatus according to claim 11, including in addition thereto, agudgeon coupling assembly having a flow passage therethrough alignedwith the flow passage in said mandrel and having a pair of gudgeon pinsspaced 180* apart around the circumference of said gudgeon couplingassembly.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, including in additionthereto, a tubular jay slot assembly arranged internally to said bodymember and between said open end of said body member and said tubularindexing member, said jay slot assembly including a pair of jay slotsformed therein and spaced 180* apart around the inner periphery of saidjay slot assembly.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 12, including inaddition thereto, a milling shoe connected to the open end of said bodymember.
 15. An aPparatus for use with a well packer having a flowpassage therethrough, said apparatus comprising: a mandrel adaptable forconnection to the top of a well packer, said mandrel having a flowpassage alignable with the flow passage in the well packer, said mandrelhaving lateral port means between said mandrel flow passage and theexterior of said mandrel; a sleeve valve rotatably encircling a portionof said mandrel and having openings through the wall thereof injuxtaposition to said port means, said sleeve valve moving betweenpositions covering and uncovering said port means; and, means responsiveto longitudinal movement of a tubing string in the well to rotate saidsleeve valve between said covered and uncovered positions.